Bullard, a global leader in personal protective equipment, is teaming with the Firefighter Cancer Support Network (FCSN) in its mission to aid firefighters and their families following a cancer diagnosis. 

Wells Bullard, CEO of Bullard and Peter Lugo, president and COO of Bullard, presented Lisa Raggio, executive director of FCSN, and Trey Kelson, CFO of FCSN, with a donation of $10,000. Bullard plans to continue its support of the FCSN throughout 2019 by donating a portion of all proceeds from the sale of their Bullard Care Kits and Decon Cloths, two products designed specifically to help protect firefighters from carcinogens.

“Firefighters put a lot of trust in us to protect them. We have a responsibility to further protect firefighters by helping to educate them about dangers they face daily on the job and encourage prevention efforts to keep them safer,” said Wells Bullard. “We are proud to align with the FCSN to support their commitment to cancer prevention education and training to protect the lives of firefighters who risk their lives to protect us.”

“Education is key to helping firefighters reduce their cancer risk,” added Peter Lugo. “That’s why we’ve chosen to team with the FCSN to combine our efforts to raise awareness of the cancer risks firefighters face.” 

According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), cancer caused more than 60 percent of career firefighter line-of-duty deaths from January 1, 2002, to December 21, 2017. Cancer, today, is the most dangerous threat to a firefighter’s health and safety.

FCSN educates firefighters about the importance of cancer screenings and early detection. “We’re so grateful for this generous donation from Bullard,” said Lisa Raggio. “This contribution makes a significant difference in delivering our Badge to Badge Mentorship program and toolboxes free of charge to firefighters coping with cancer. It also provides the resources necessary to provide cancer awareness and prevention training nationwide. We are so proud and happy to welcome Bullard to the FCSN family.”

For more information, visit www.bullard.com and www.firefightercanersupport.org.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN—Fotokite recently announced the launch of a new product for firefighters in partnership with Pierce Manufacturing. Pierce Situational Awareness Systems by Fotokite are actively tethered unmanned aerial systems (UAS) integrated directly into public safety vehicles and firefighter operations. The systems provide persistent aerial situational awareness with the single push of a button, no piloting necessary. Pierce Fotokite systems are already installed and operational in major fire departments across the U.S., including integration into Pierce fire apparatus, frontline command vehicles, and fire chiefs’ SUVs. These systems have been used by firefighters in operations such as live fire response, search and rescue missions, and structure collapse inspection.

The Pierce Situational Awareness System by Fotokite has been specifically designed and built from the ground up specifically to help in first responder operations. Pierce Fotokite systems do not require piloting at any point in operation and are the only UAS authorized by the FAA to be used by all public safety teams without requiring pilot licenses or individual authorizations to fly. This reduces the burden on fire departments to train members on every team to operate traditional drones and maintain expensive pilot programs—Fotokite technology can be leveraged by every first responder department in the U.S., today. Pierce Fotokites deliver automatic and reliable hands-off launching, flight, and landing from a small vehicle-integrated enclosure while also providing 24+ hour continuous flight endurance and secure data delivery via tether, rather than wireless data transmission dependency. Thermal and visual video are streamed directly to first responder laptops, tablets, and even remote command centers to gain instant situational awareness capabilities. The lightweight, heavy-duty flight frame is designed for robust long-term operation in demanding environments and is IP55 rated to fly in rain, snow, and windy conditions.

No-hassle use of Pierce Situational Awareness Systems by Fotokite follows the recent HR 302 FAA Reauthorization specific to Public Actively Tethered UAS, which came into effect as of April 4, 2019. Pierce Fotokite technology uniquely fit the criteria defining Actively Tethered UAS today, allowing first responders to gain aerial situational awareness without requiring a piloting license or a certificate of authorization or waiver (i.e. COA or Pt. 107).

For more information, visit https://fotokite.com/.

By Mike Ciampo

Speigletown is a hamlet within the town of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer County, New York. It is located just northeast of the City of Troy. It is near the Hudson River and also a suburb of the City of Albany, the capital of New York. As with many areas in the northeast, the land was once inhabited by the Mohican Indian tribe, and early settlers went to this area because of the river’s transportation traits. Agriculture flourished early on, and with the mills operating on water power from the river, things flourished for the area. Today, the agriculture presence is still there, but much of the area is now residential and commercial like so many areas in the vicinity of larger cities.

The Speigletown District (NY) Volunteer Fire Company (SDVFD) began back in the summer of 1944 when a group of men decided the area needed fire protection. At this meeting, it was decided to begin fundraising efforts to purchase equipment. While those efforts were under way, the department responded to its first fire in 1945. The members responded without any apparatus or equipment to a barn fire. W the blaze was roaring, members entered the adjoining house to remove furniture and personal belongings of the owners before they were lost to the ravages of fire. Soon after the fire, funds were secured, and the department purchased its first pumper while its membership had reached a total of 111. The firehouse was being built in the years to follow, and the rig was kept in a local barn until they moved into today’s present firehouse that has been updated and renovated over the years to accommodate the department’s present fleet of apparatus.

The SDVFD provides basic life support and first responder EMS to the community along with fire protection and fire prevention duties. The department operates a 2013 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor as Car 1, a 2005 Ford Explorer as Car 2, a 2006 Ford Expedition as First Responder 35, a 2001 Ford 550 mini pumper, a 2016 KME engine-rescue, a 2016 KME engine-tanker. The department also boasts a 1936 American La France with a Diamond Rio straight six engine that is used in parades, musters, public relations events, and members’ funerals.

Engine-Ladder 35 (EL-35) is a 2006 E-One Typhoon 75-rear-mount rearmount HP 75 aerial ladder. It has a 1,500-gpm pump, a 500-gallon water tank, and a 25-gallon Class A foam tank. The apparatus is painted black over red on its cab and red on sides of the rear body. There are three reflective stripes (two thin yellow and one thick black) running along the lower portion of the cab and continuing along the body until it goes into the “Z” pattern and runs higher on the rear portion of the rig. The words “Fire Rescue” are on the side compartments over the wheel well. The aerial ladder has large signage on each side with “Speigletown” written on them. The Tasmanian Devil is on all of the department’s apparatus, with equipment or tools that resemble that company’s specific duties. On EL-35 the devil is holding a ladder in one hand and a nozzle in the other, with the words “Black Sheep” above it.

The driver’s compartment behind the pump panel is equipped for engine and truck work. The compartment has two large horizontal pull-out trays on the left side of the compartment. The right side of the compartment has two large vertical pull-out tool storage racks. On the lower shelf, there is a dry chemical extinguisher, hydrant valve, assorted fittings box, assorted hand tools (rubber mallet, hydrant, and spanner wrenches), K-Too